Mississippi

One of five states bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, 1,520 square
miles (about 3%) of Mississippi are covered by water. The Mississippi River flows along
much of the state's western border with Louisiana and Arkansas. Other major
rivers include the Big Black River, Pearl River, and Yazoo River. Major
lakes include Ross Barnett Reservoir, Arkabutla Lake, Sardis Lake, and Grenada
Lake. The origin of the name Mississippi may be from the Ojibwa (Chippewa)
Indian words "mici zibi," which means "great river" or "gathering of waters."

What sites are underwater?

Given its Gulf location and its rivers, chances are good that there are
many underwater archeological sites in Mississippi's offshore and riverine
waters. Some of the types of sites found in the Gulf of Mexico are Native
American sites that became inundated when sea level rose after the last
Ice Age. Others are sunken ships of exploration, Spanish plate fleet wrecks,
sunken 19th century steamships, and wrecks from the Civil War, World War
II, and other conflicts. Many shipwrecks lie on the bottom of the Mississippi
River and the state's other major rivers. Two Civil War era shipwrecks include
the USS Cairo and the Star of the West.

USS Cairo photographed in the Mississippi River area in 1862
with a boat alongside the port bow, crewmen on deck, and other river steamers
in the background. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

The USS Cairo was an ironclad river gunboat built in 1861 for the
U.S. Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla. Transferred later to the Union Navy,
the ship was on patrol in 1862 clearing mines from the Mississippi River
when it struck a torpedo that was detonated from the river bank, becoming
the first ship to be sunk by a naval mine. The wreck was discovered in 1959
by divers and, with support from the state of Mississippi and others, it
was recovered in 1965. Much of the hull and its contents including weapons,
munitions, naval stores, and personal gear of sailors were damaged during
salvage but efforts were made to clean and reassemble it. Later, the vessel
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and given to the
National Park Service for restoration and display at Vicksburg
National Military Park.

The Star of the West was a side-wheeled steamer, built in 1852, that was used by the Confederates
and renamed the CSS Philip. In 1862, the Confederates scuttled the
CSS Philip in the Tallahatchie River near Greenwood to block the
advancing Union Navy. Now the property of the U.S. General Services Administration,
the shipwreck is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as nationally
significant.

What permits do I need to study shipwrecks?

The Board of Trustees issues permits to other state agencies or institutions and qualified
private institutions, companies, or individuals for taking, salvaging, excavating,
restoring, or conducting scientific or educational studies on Mississippi
landmarks, if the Board determines doing so would be in the best interest
of the State of Mississippi. In addition, the Board is authorized to enter
into contracts for the discovery and salvage of sunken or abandoned ships
or wrecks of the sea under certain circumstances.

What laws concern underwater archeology in Mississippi?

The Antiquities Law of Mississippi is codified at Mississippi
Code Annotated § 39-7-1, et seq. This law authorizes and directs
the state to locate, protect, and preserve all sites, objects, buildings,
shipwrecks, and locations of historical, archeological or architectural
significance in, on, or under any lands, tidelands, submerged lands, and
seabed under the jurisdiction of the state.